R36S Plus

[gilded agate]

All the modules are blacklisted, which is a good thing I think.

[languid pumice]

so, ejected, plugging in keyboard now...

[gilded agate]

Yes I found your theme on the owner's git

[gilded agate]

Yes, but there is little hope that it will work and I don't understand why.

[gilded agate]

If you want you can test the update script for your theme, otherwise I will test it this evening on my r36xx

[languid pumice]

seems to quit immediately after the sleep 2

[gilded agate]

OK I'll watch tonight

[languid pumice]

👍

[shadow quail]

Hey guys! Someone new to this very confused here: bought two of these to try and avoid clones. One was indeed the white box/supposedly original one, works with wifi... And the other in the blue box, limited instructions, but ALSO comes with wifi and seemingly works the same. I think I'm trying to keep the first one, now both come with the same OS, seems to be ARKOS with emulation station customisation? I dont really like it: cant even see the system info, the shortcuts are not properly working... Looks like the way to go would be to install the ARKOS community-mantained image, could anyone back this up please? I'm kinda ready to go for it with the tiny-best-set-roms pack. Just trying to go for a system that doesnt require require a lot of tweaking after installing: was really hoping for those nice console-specific backgrounds instead of black bars lol Cheers and thanks!

[languid pumice]

on both, open the battery panel and take a picture under the battery at the board itself, and do another one at the top of the back where the sticker is

that is if they're clear cases, since that's the easiest way to check for clones, if they're not transparent you have to unscrew the back panel off (possibly voiding "warrenty")

[shadow quail]

Thanks for the response! Unfortunately they are both not transparent, I can unscrew them if neccesary! Based on what I saw online (sticker, box, instruction), I figure the white would be original, and the right possibly a clone? But they both do have working wifi, and they both come with the same OS. It's supposed to be ARKOS 2.0, but not sure what's the custom layer, it's confusing. They have the same menu and both boot with the image on the yellow one, followed by the Emu Station loading screen. Ultimately I don't really care if they're clones, just want the best possible OS.

[languid pumice]

looks like the white one HAS what is the latest AeUX version with possible modifications (mine doesn't have the -1 at the end of the date there), what does the yellow one say? also it looks like they both might use v20 of the PCB at the very least, as the wifi chips are at the bottom left there with the built in antenna (means you'll have less wifi noise coming out the the speaker)

interesting that they use different joysticks, but judging by the brown ribbon cable coming out of them they're going to be regular ones and not hal effect ones

[shadow quail]

good insight! it's hard to read, but the yellow one says "Emulationstation v2.13.0.0 chmod build 20250525072511". I've heard some noises on the white one, wasnt thinking it would be the wifi. No idea about the joysticks

First thing i did with the white one was to connect the wifi, then do an update. Looks like it worked if that's the latest version?

[worn cargo]

So you udated from arkos 06...25-1 and you got arkos for Fundkiddy?? That doesnt make sense to me xD

[shadow quail]

No no, the white one was updated, see image above. The yellow one i didn't try updating.

[worn cargo]

Ahh, ok

Not sure if the funkiddy version will update.

[shadow quail]

oh lol i just tried for curiosity, and it is now ArkOS 2.0 (03292025) (AeUX). A bit different versionion than the white one

Is this the same ArkOS that people are installing through the community mantained image?

[shadow quail]

Bc I dont find it so intuitive! Somehow can't turn WIFI off in the yellow one, due to absent of wi-fi toggle. In the white one, it looks like the resolution is off for some themes, as if the backgrounds were too large for the screen. Hotkeys don't really work as expected...

[worn cargo]

No toggle? Mke sure you check well. In any case Here is a link to that stock version if you wanna compare. It doesnt have the OG themes though.

https://mega.nz/file/HoYAiQSa#Z9DYUZGwVCwl-seu7-1OxAvacOGSGCIJO8SgkU0FgbE

[glass ferry]

If someone is still here can u guys help? I updated thought internet and my R36s and now the screen got messed up and I can't use it anymore

[tepid glade]

This is not the R36s channel

Go to arkos channel and read about the panel picker, probably have the wrong panel set

[barren spade]

I created the g: partition inside the e: partition to store my r36s games, but my Windows won't let me open it or even format the space, what do I do?

[languid pumice]

you shouldn't need to do that? the first install for using arkos expands the partition for you

[barren spade]

I'm taking the old files and moving them to the new 128gb micro sd, and my r36s is probably a clone

[languid pumice]

is this a R36s Plus?

[barren spade]

ohh nah

its just a r36s i think

have a channel just for r36s?

[languid pumice]

then you're in the wrong channel xD #1344470041986596935

[barren spade]

lol tysm

[shadow quail]

Back to R36S plus ! lol thanks again for the answers. May I ask, would you recommend, given my device version and that it seems to be a legit, to install a different OS or just go with this ArkOS that comes installed and get used to it? I'm mainly interested in optimal performance with custom backgrounds specific for each console resolution and getting as most roms as possible. Currently having a blast with Advanced Wars 2 on GBA lol thanks!!

[loud jay]

Personally I'd flash a clean ArkOS and do your roms yourself.
Thst way, you know exactly what to expect

[languid pumice]

well noone here can help you with that last part, but there's some 1:1 overlay packs you could use, I found these by searching the discord for "overlay 1:1" and "bezel 1:1"
https://github.com/Vidnez/TVs-Bezels-for-1-1-screens
https://github.com/Vidnez/Drastic-Patch-for-RGB30-20sx
https://github.com/Vidnez/Boxart-Bezels/tree/master
https://github.com/gonejack/rgb30/tree/main

I could probably get the overlays from my original jelos card, lemme see if I can find where they're sourced from

ah, looks like they're the same ones in that last link

[languid pumice]

I'd also say flash the latest arkos AeUX (the middle one here) https://handhelds.wiki/R36Plus#Firmware

that way when it's time to update, it'll be easier for you to do so without having to re-flash the whole OS card

[shadow quail]

Thanks for the advice guys! will try and flash the original ArkOS when back from holidays

[shadow quail]

and thanks for this, saving those links. I just got a bit dissapointed when I saw that the overlasy were not already in the device, because I ordered from the same store that this youtubed did, and he had everything smoothly from factory lol guess I was expecting too much considering the amount of clones, images, etc

[languid pumice]

you might already HAVE the overlays, they're just not enabled

they'd be in /roms/bezels

[glacial quest]

so the stock battery is not that bad after all, I think just the battery indicators work incorrectly. I'm checking how long I can play newly ported Morrowin and it runs already for 2,5H, I noticed there must be some memory leak so I had to restart it already as the framerate turned to single digits after a while. But I think it should be quite demanding, so probably easier to run systems should work much longer 😛

[molten summit]

Ok so this is actually the R36Plus channel?
Because the "R36SPlus" is a piece of crap scam that doesn't have a 1:1 screen

[olive flower]

This is officially named the R36S Plus. There's a typo on the box but the sticker on the back has it correct.The "R36S Plus" with FC1200S chip is not even worth mentioning because

1. It's crap we don't need a channel for crap.
2. It's rare I don't think anyone would knowingly buy it except reviewers.

[desert sigil]

I think a channel for people trying to troubleshoot the crap is nice tho.

[smoky plank]

Who's ligit sellers on aliexpress?

[brave lark]

Is it normal that the battery info isn't accurate?

[brave lark]

There was a google excel link, in which they listed the trusted sellers. I can't find it anymore.
I got mine from
factory game direct store

I think Boyhom is also trusted

[smoky plank]

Ok I'll have a look ty

[smoky plank]

@brave lark is the arkos, the same I can put my old sd card in ?

[olive flower]

https://tenor.com/view/nobody-got-time-for-that-a-intnobody-got-time-for-that-no-time-for-that-nope-no-gif-10243842

[olive flower]

yes

[molten summit]

Sometimes this wiki lists some known good and bad sellers: https://handhelds.wiki/R36S_Buying_Guide
But it seems like it's not too hard to tell because, if you sort by price, whoever is inexplicably selling way cheaper is probably scamming or has a crap clone. And of course avoid those "stores" with procedurally generated names like "Store98479343456"

It looks like theres a lot of advice on AE in general here https://www.reddit.com/r/Aliexpress/comments/gte9ac/new_on_aliexpress_or_this_sub_read_this_first/ (let me know if I'm not supposed to post redit links or anything)

[desert sigil]

Finally got my device running and yeah it runs anything 16bit fine but weirdly enough runs this like absolute garbage 🤔 https://romhacking.com/hack/you-know-what-fuck-you--1-000-red-coins

[olive flower]

Because it's N64

You can run the portmaster version fine though

This is not the correct chipset for running n64 romhacks

[desert sigil]

It's also 1,000 extra objects jammed into the space.

Good to know though! That explains why I've had some trouble with other N64 games starting.

[olive flower]

you need something stronger for n64

[tepid glade]

Most N64 runs fine, if you pick the right core for the game.

[tepid glade]

OoT/MM doesn't, but ship of harkinian works fine.

[desert sigil]

All I really want is Quest 64 so it should be fine.

[gritty cairn]

Quest 64?!

[loud jay]

With the release of Android for this thing, anyone going to do it? And if so, what's your use case?

[smoky plank]

Where can we get a setup guide for the new handheld so I csn put it on another sd

[brave lark]

How can I update arkos? I saw that there is a new version.
my device has WiFi. Do I update in the options or with the sd card?

[bronze mason]

should the r36 plus have a dedicated section on the gameconsole channel now

[oblique zephyr]

Yes its very much not upcoming. Btw here's an upcoming Portmaster release of Morrowind running on it:

[tired fjord]

Does ArkOS for R36 Plus have syncthing?

[glacial quest]

ArkOS doesnt have it out of the box, you have to install it manually

[vivid solar]

Why does this not have its own channel yet in main lol

[olive flower]

I mean I think when these threads becomes a forum post they die

[oblique zephyr]

Its upcoming until people realize its the king of ewaste

[vivid solar]

3326 on a 1:1 ain't terrible. The 20sx is definitely better but still lol

[oblique zephyr]

Half the price of 20sx

Also powkiddy went out of business but game console will never die!

[vivid solar]

Not confirmed yet. And yes it shall the Price of everything up to DS. Which is what you wanna be playing on the 1:1 anyway

Best Screen for GBA on a x3 Interger Scale. Best Screen for DS, & Vertical Shooters on Arcade. 3326 does good on those

[oblique zephyr]

SNES is gorgeous. GBA integer scaled. Portmaster! I'm well in to a Morrowind play through as we optimize it for memory

[vivid solar]

This device I would say is not E-Waste, just Valued a little too high still. Sales bring it down to about $40 US. That is where I would say it's proper value

[oblique zephyr]

I spent $30 for mine

[vivid solar]

Lucky, I been hunting in US for that sale. I can't find it, with shipping costs now 😭

[oblique zephyr]

Naw i got it pre tarrifs

[vivid solar]

Fair lol

[languid pumice]

main downside: no OTG port till we figure out how to get it to work

oh AND not every R36S Plus actually COMES with Wifi

[oblique zephyr]

Desolder WiFi

[languid pumice]

[vivid solar]

What CFW are you using?

[languid pumice]

arkos 202503110000428 on a "R36S Pro-V11 2024-08-18" board

[oblique zephyr]

My OTG works every third Tuesday.

[languid pumice]

I don't really think my otg has ever worked on the two r36s plus's ive had

[faint void]

Just received mine, aparently at the moment, wifi does not work

it came with that arkos funkiddy, now trying the most recent r36s plus arkos version and i´ll tell u

i think its the "fake" one, am i right?

the box is the light blue one

[oblique zephyr]

No thats legit latest version

[faint void]

so why wifi does not work?

i mean i use the same wifi noodle that in my r36s (the good one, wifi working) but here does not

[oblique zephyr]

I dont know what a WiFi noodle is. Do you have anything plugged in to the otg port?

[faint void]

that thing

[oblique zephyr]

So your device has built-in WiFi so you dont need that. And, plugging that into the otg port will cause your built-in WiFi to fail and likely the otg port won't work either.

[oblique zephyr]

Just unplug that and WiFi will work

[faint void]

now it works, thanks so much

[olive flower]

can this go too? @thorn heath

[oblique zephyr]

Never give up! Never surrender!